Good times roll on at Olalla Bluegrass & Beyond Festival

Music lovers from as far away as Deer Park, Texas flocked to the Olalla Little League Field on Aug. 17 to "kick the city off their shoes" at the 22nd annual Olalla Bluegrass and Beyond Festival. Organizers estimated the crowd at more than 1,100, in addition to 30 food and crafts vendors and many volunteers. Nine bands entertained the happy crowd with bluegrass "and beyond" tunes as the festival's "visualize sunshine" mantra brought optimum weather conditions. The popular berry pie-baking contest drew a dozen entries and many other festival-goers brought pies to contribute to the pie sales. There were carnival-type games, lessons on a potters' wheel and a parade — complete with live music and Mardi Gras beads — to keep the youngsters entertained. The Kitsap Stream Stewards also led nature walks along nearby Olalla Creek, identifying some of the plants and critters that call the creek home. Next year's event will take place on Aug. 16.

A big part of the annual treats at the festival is the wide variety of homemade pies available by the pie and by the slice.

Ric Hallock | Gig Harbor Life

Gig Harbor resident Michael Ewens takes some time out manning his booth, The Ripple Effect, to catch some bubbles with his grandson, Forrest Ewens, 2, also of Gig Harbor.

Ric Hallock | Gig Harbor Life

Part of the Beyond aspect of the Olalla Bluegrass Festival was the myriad of activities families could partake, such as Silverdale resident Caleb Rooney, 5, launching toy parachutes with his brother, Josh (not pictured), while grandfather Ernie Eckley of Port Orchard looks on.

Ric Hallock | Gig Harbor Life

Gig Harbor resident Jacob Baurichter, 7, finds it easier to keep a Hula Hoop running around his neck than his waist in the children’s play area.

Ric Hallock | Gig Harbor Life

Olalla resident Carmel Pennington of Entelechy Life Center, takes advantage of a light breeze to launch a number of soap bubbles into the crowd wandering by her booth.

Ric Hallock | Gig Harbor Life

Carter’s Chocolates of Port Orchard was a busy booth, serving up ice cream and root beer floats, such as the one Alyssa Sanchez of Port Orchard makes.

Ric Hallock | Gig Harbor Life

A large crowd basks in the sunshine in the infield and outfield grass of a South Kitsap Little League field, the home of the annual Olalla Bluegrass and Beyond Festival each year.

Ric Hallock | Gig Harbor Life

Olalla Bluegrass and Beyond organizer and coordinator Charlee Glock-Jackson also takes the stage to introduce each act.

Ric Hallock | Gig Harbor Life

Gig Harbor resident Kaitlin Flanigan, left, tries her hand at spinning a pot on a potter’s wheel, with the guidance of Jana Fisher, a member of the Gig Harbor Potter’s Guild. Members of the Guild were on hand to help people throw some pots in conjunction with the Empty Bowls project.

Ric Hallock | Gig Harbor Life

Fern Hill, from Portland, takes the stage to play a number of bluegrass tunes.